Meagan LIU | Memoirs from Alumni

Memoirs from Alumni - 2018-19

Meagan LIU

Student of Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Exchange to Tsinghua University, China

"Good things happen outside of comfort zones."

My exchange semester at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China was an eye-opening, at times challenging, but overall very rewarding experience.

Born in Australia to Chinese immigrant parents, I chose to study in Beijing not only to improve my Mandarin language skills but also to try and understand a part of my identity that I had never really been able to connect with.

I had previously travelled to China a few times, but only on short trips, so I was not exactly sure what to expect. At Tsinghua, I chose subjects from their International Arbitration and Dispute Settlement LLM program. We covered a range of topics such as International Commercial Arbitration, The Law of the WTO, Bi-lateral Investment Treaties, and examined cases including the recently settled maritime conciliation between Australia and East Timor. The classes were interesting and engaging, and I really enjoyed collaborating and working on group assignments with both Chinese and international students.

In Beijing, it was not all hard work and no play! The transportation system in Beijing is very convenient, and you are able to get across the city in a matter of minutes thanks to their underground metro. Every weekend, I explored a different part of Beijing, with my favourites being Sanlitun for the nightlife, 798 Artzone for the quirky art galleries, and Wanfujing for the street food market full of crazy things like scorpions and spiders on sticks. I also really enjoyed ice-skating in the Summer Palace in winter and climbing three different sections of the Great Wall. Accidentally stumbling upon The Temple of Confucius was also a great find, and I could spend all day exploring the cafes, shops and bars inside the many Hutongs (narrow alleyways) dotted around the city. I was also lucky enough to attend the China Open and a CBA game, which were both very fun experiences.

I would recommend going on exchange to an Asian destination for those who are really looking for a unique cultural experience, especially as the ties between Australia and China continue to strengthen. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study and travel at the same time, and this was all made possible thanks to the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards. My exchange has taught me resilience, independence and confidence and leaves me excited to see what opportunities lie ahead.

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